Tuner having a frame with a through-hole and a pressurization portion for mounting a connection portion with a flange

ABSTRACT

A tuner comprises a frame that is provided with a through-hole and a connection portion to which a connector is connected. The connection portion includes a flange portion that is able to select to pass through the through-hole or not to pass through the through-hole by the connection portion being rotated, and the frame includes a pressurization portion that pressurizes the flange portion which passes through the through-hole.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2013-063149 filed on Mar. 26, 2013, thecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tuner that tunes in a broadcastsignal.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventionally, for example, a circuit apparatus, such as a tuner or thelike for receiving a television broadcast signal, is known, whichincludes a connection base (receptacle and the like) into which aconnector (plug and the like) is inserted. In such a circuit apparatus,the connection base is fixed to a frame of the circuit apparatus bysoldering or deforming (e.g., see JP-A-2010-287527).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For example, in a case where the connection base is fixed to the frameby soldering, the connection base is once temporarily fixed to theframe. And, in this temporary fixed state, solder paste is applied to aportion that is to be connected, heating is performed by means of areflow oven, and the connection base is soldered to the frame. In thecase where the connection base is fixed to the frame by means of such aprocess, if the temporary fixing of the connection base to the frame isinadequate, there is a case where the connection base moves before thesoldering ends.

For example, if the connection base is fixed to the frame with theconnection base inclined because of the movement of the connection base,trouble is likely that a circuit board (tuner board) to be later mountedon the frame fails to be successfully mounted on the frame. And,occurrence of such trouble causes a decline in working efficiency.

In a process of producing a circuit board such as a tuner or the like,it is general that a frame to which a connection base is fixedtemporarily is conveyed to another place, where the final fixing such assoldering or the like is performed. If the frame is conveyed under astate where the temporary fixing of the connection base is inadequate,it is highly likely that the connection base moves with respect to theframe. Because of this, it is very important whether the temporaryfixing of the frame is good or not.

In light of the above points, it is an object of the present inventionto provide a tuner in which a connection portion to which a connector isconnected is surely fixed to a frame and it is possible to smoothlyperform the mounting work of the connection portion.

To achieve the above object, a tuner according to the present inventionis structured (first structure) to comprise: a frame that is providedwith a through-hole; and a connection portion to which a connector isconnected; wherein the connection portion includes a flange portion thatis able to select to pass through the through-hole or not to passthrough the through-hole by the connection portion being rotated; andthe frame includes a pressurization portion that pressurizes the flangeportion which passes through the through-hole.

According to the present structure, it is possible to pressurize aportion of the connection portion (connection portion put in a state notto come off the frame), to which the connector is connected, against aportion of the frame by means of pressurization from the pressurizationportion disposed on the frame. Because of this, according to the presentstructure, it is possible to fix the connection portion to the frameunder a state where the connection portion does not move easily(inclusive of a state where the connection portion does not rotate).Besides, according to the present structure, the connection portion ismounted on the frame by simple work of inserting a portion of theconnection portion into the through-hole of the frame and rotating theconnection portion; accordingly, it is possible to smoothly perform themounting work.

In the tuner having the above first structure, the flange portion may bestructured (second structure) to have a planar portion that includes afirst direction for passing through the through-hole and a seconddirection for not-passing through the through-hole. According to thepresent structure, it is easy to form the connection portion and theframe with a simple structure.

In the tuner having the above first or second structure, it ispreferable that the pressurization portion is structured (thirdstructure) to change a pressurization force for pressurizing the flangeportion in accordance with a rotation amount of the flange portion. Inmore detail, it is preferable that in a case where the rotation amountof the flange portion inserted through the through-hole becomes large,the pressurization portion has large force for pressurizing the flangeportion. According to the present structure, it is possible to surelyfix the connection portion to the frame without deteriorating theworkability when mounting the connection portion onto the frame.

In the tuner having any one of the above first to third structures, itis preferable that the frame is structured (fourth structure) to includea limit portion that limits the rotation of the flange portion which isinserted into the through-hole. According to the present structure, itis possible to perform the mounting work of the connection portion byusing the limit portion as a basis for the mounting; accordingly, theworkability is good.

In the tuner having any one of the above first to fourth structures, astructure (fifth structure) may be employed, in which the frame includesa first side wall and a second side wall that meets the first side wallat right angles; wherein the through-hole is disposed through the firstside wall; and the pressurization portion is disposed on the second sidewall in an elastically deformable manner and pressurizes the flangeportion from a side surface. According to the present structure, it ispossible to provide a structure that makes it possible to surely fix theconnection portion to the frame without increasing the number ofcomponents from the conventional structure and changing the structure ofthe connection portion.

In the tuner having any one of the above first to fifth structures, astructure (sixth structure) may be employed, in which the aboveconnector is an F type connector. However, the connector is not limitedto the F type connector, but may be, for example, a coaxial connector ofanother type and the like.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a tuner inwhich a connection portion, to which a connector is connected, can besurely fixed to a frame and the mounting work of the connection portioncan be smoothly performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a structure of a tuneraccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a structure of a connection baseof a tuner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view when seeing the connection base along anarrow B direction of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a partial structure of a frameof a tuner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a partial structure of a frameof a tuner according to an embodiment of the present invention, but aview showing a portion different from FIG. 4.

FIG. 6A is a view schematically showing a state when a flange portion ofa connection base is inserted into a through-hole.

FIG. 6B is a view schematically showing a state when a flange portion ofa connection base is rotated after being inserted into a through-hole.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which aconnection base is fixed to a frame.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which aconnection base is fixed to a frame, but a view seen from a positiondifferent from FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a tuner according to the present inventionis described in detail with reference to the drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a structure of a tuner 1according to the embodiment of the present invention. The tuner 1 is acircuit apparatus that includes a tuning circuit which tunes in abroadcast signal. As shown in FIG. 1, the tuner 1 includes: twoconnection bases 11, 11; a frame 12 on which the two connection bases11, 11 are mounted; and two covers 121, 121 that are disposed oppositelyto each other to cover an inside of the frame 12. A circuit board (tunerboard), which is covered by the two covers 121, 121, is also mounted onthe frame 12. For example, this tuner 1 is mounted on a mother board orthe like of broadcast reception apparatuses (a television receiver, anoptical disc apparatus and the like).

In the meantime, the two connection bases 11, 11 have the samestructure. In the present embodiment, one of the two connection bases11, 11 is used as an input terminal, while the other is used as anoutput terminal. In the meantime, the number of connection basesdisposed in the tuner may be changed suitably, that is, plural orsingle. Besides, the connection base 11 is an example of a connectionportion of the present invention to which the connector is connected.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a structure of the connectionbase 11 of the tuner 1 according to the embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view in a case of seeing theconnection base 11 along an arrow B direction of FIG. 2. In the presentembodiment, as the connection base 11, a type of connection baseconnected to an F type connector (an example of a coaxial connector) isused. However, the connection base 11 may be of another type other thanthe type connected to the F type connector: the F type connector is amere example.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the connection base 11 includes acylindrical main body portion 11 a composed of a conductor. An outersurface of the main body portion 11 a is provided with a screw groovethat screws on a nut and a screw portion of a connector. A core-lineconnection metal fitting 11 b, a portion of which is formed to protrudefrom one end of the main body portion 11 a, is disposed in an insulatedstate in the main body portion 11 a. The core-line connection metalfitting 11 b is composed to be connected electrically to a core line ofa connector in a case where the connector (not shown) is fitted on theother end of the connection base 11. The core-line connection metalfitting 11 b is finally connected electrically to an electrode pad ofthe tuner board that is mounted on the tuner 11.

Besides, the one end of the main body portion 11 a (one end where thecore-line connection metal fitting 11 b is disposed) is provided with aflange portion 11 c which is disposed across a gap CL to oppose the mainbody portion 11 a and has an outer shape of a substantially rectangularplate. The flange portion 11 c is connected to the main body portion 11a by a coupling portion 11 d.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a partial structure of the frame12 of the tuner 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.In the meantime, FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view when seeing the frame12 along an arrow A direction of FIG. 1, and shows only around a portionwhere the upper connection base 11 of FIG. 1 is mounted. As shown inFIG. 4, a first side wall 12 a composing the frame 12 is providedtherethrough a through-hole 13 that is formed into a substantiallyrectangular shape when seen from top. This through-hole 13 is used whenmounting the connection base 11 onto the frame 12. In the meantime, asdescribed above, the two connection bases 11, 11 are mounted on theframe 12; accordingly, the first side wall 12 a is provided with onemore through-hole that is identical to the through-hole 13.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a partial structure of the frame12 of the tuner 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention,and is a view showing a portion different from FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is aschematic plan view when seeing the frame 12 along an arrow C directionof FIG. 4, and shows only around a portion where the upper connectionbase 11 of FIG. 1 is mounted.

As shown in FIG. 5, the frame 12 includes a second side wall 12 b thatis disposed to meet the first side wall 12 a provided with thethrough-hole 13 at substantially right angles. As to this second sidewall 12 b, substantially all of a portion, which is near the first sidewall 12 a provided with the through-hole 13, is cut away to form an armportion 14 that is elastically deformable. In the meantime, this armportion 14 is an example of a pressurization portion of the presentinvention.

Next, a procedure in which the connection base 11 is mounted onto theframe 12 is described with reference to FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, FIG. 7, andFIG. 8. FIG. 6A is a view schematically showing a state when the flangeportion 11 c of the connection base 11 is inserted into the through-hole13. Besides, FIG. 6B is a view schematically showing a state when theflange portion 11 c of the connection base 11 is rotated after beinginserted into the through-hole 13. FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B both are expectedto be observed from an inside of the frame 12. FIG. 7 is a schematicperspective view showing a state in which the connection base 11 isfixed to the frame 12. FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing astate in which the connection base 11 is fixed to the frame 12, but aview seen from a position different from FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a view whenthe fixed state of the connection base 11 is seen from inside, whileFIG. 8 is a view when the fixed state of the connection base 11 is seenfrom outside.

To mount the connection base 11 onto the frame 12, first, the connectionbase 11 is disposed in such a manner that the flange portion 11 copposes the through-hole 13. And the flange portion 11 c of theconnection base 11 is rotated and adjusted with respect to thethrough-hole 13 of the frame 12.

The flange portion 11 c and the through-hole 13 are the same as eachother in that both outer shapes have a substantially rectangular shape.In the meantime, in detail, an outer size of the through-hole 13 isslightly larger than an outer size of the flange portion 11 c. Besides,considering a relationship with the coupling portion 11 d (see FIG. 2)of the connection base 11 and a relationship with the core-lineconnection metal fitting 11 b, the through-hole 13 is provided withcurt-away portions 13 a, 13 b to form an arc-shaped inner wall, and inthis point, the flange portion 11 c and the through-hole 13 are slightlydifferent from each other in the outer shape.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the directions of the substantially rectangularflange portion 11 c and through-hole 13 are arranged to be the same aseach other, whereby the flange portion 11 c can pass through thethrough-hole 13. On the other hand, in a case where both directions arenot the same, the flange portion 11 c cannot pass through thethrough-hole 13. In other words, the flange portion 11 c is structuredto include a plane portion that has a first direction to pass throughthe through-hole 13, and a second direction not to pass through thethrough-hole 13.

When the connection base 11 is rotated and put into the state where theflange portion 11 c can pass through the through-hole 13, the flangeportion 11 c passes through the through-hole 13 to be inserted into theframe 12. And, when the flange portion 11 c is inserted into the frame12, the connection base 11 is rotated about its center axis (center axisof the cylindrical main body portion 11). In this way, the flangeportion 11 c and the side wall 12 a of the frame 12 interfere with eachother, and the flange portion 11 c cannot pass through the through-hole13. In other words, the connection base 11 does not come off the frame12.

The frame 12 is provided with a stopper portion 15 (example of a stopperportion of the present invention) that limits a rotation range of theflange portion 11 c which is inserted from outside into the frame 12 viathe through-hole 13. In the present embodiment, because of the presenceof this stopper portion 15, the flange portion 11 c inserted into theframe 12 has no other way but to rotate in only one direction(counterclockwise direction in FIG. 6A: R direction). Besides, theflange portion 11 c rotated in the one direction butts the stopperportion 15 at a time pint of being rotated by 90° (this is a mereexample) not to rotate any more (see FIG. 6B and FIG. 7). In the presentembodiment, the position (position rotated by) 90° where the flangeportion 11 c butts the stopper portion 15 is used as a fixing position(exactly a temporary fixing position).

As described above, the side wall 12 b of the frame 12 is provided withthe arm portion 14 that is elastically deformable. Before the flangeportion 11 c comes to the position to butt the stopper portion 15, aside surface (end surface) of the flange portion 11 c and the armportion 14 begin to contact each other. After both begin to contact eachother, the flange portion 11 c is further rotated, whereby the armportion 14 is pressurized by the flange portion 11 c to begin to beelastically deformed and the arm portion 14 pressurizes the flangeportion 11 c thanks to reaction force due to the elastic deformation.This pressurization force gradually becomes large as the arm portion 14rotates; accordingly, this pressurization force is unlikely todiscourage the work of mounting the connection base 11 onto the frame12.

However, if this pressurizing force becomes too large, the workabilityis caused to deteriorate; accordingly, for example, it is preferablethat the size (length, width, thickness and the like of the arm) of thearm portion 14 is adjusted to find a suitable load by measuring a loadwith which the arm portion 14 pressurizes the flange portion 11 c.

A structure is employed, in which in the case where the connection base11 is disposed at the above fixing position, a portion of the couplingportion lid (see FIG. 2) of the connection base 11 butts an inner wallof the through-hole 13, so that the connection base 11 is disposed at adesired position of the frame 12. And, at the fixing position, theflange portion 11 c is pressurized by the arm portion 14 (see FIG. 6B,FIG. 7, FIG. 8); accordingly, the connection base 11 is fixed to theframe 12. In other words, the arm portion 14 prevents the connectionbase 11 from rotating because of frictional force and the connectionbase 11 from moving from the desired position. Because of this, it isless likely that the connection base 11 disposed at the fixing position(temporary fixing position) moves obliquely from the desired statebefore the soldering (soldering to connect the connection base 11 andthe frame 12 with each other), that is, the final fixing ends.

In other words, according to the structure of the present embodiment,during the soldering work, it is unnecessary to adjust, for example, theinclination of the connection base 11 and to mount again the connectionbase 11 onto the frame 12. And, at a completion time of the soldering,it is unlikely that the connection base 11 is mounted on the frame 12 inan inclined manner; accordingly, it is possible to smoothly perform thework, fulfilled later, of mounting the tuner board onto the frame 12.According to the structure of the present embodiment, it is possible toachieve improvement in the workability and the like avoiding adding anew component to the conventional structure and reforming the structureof the connection base 11, which is very useful.

In the meantime, the position of the stopper portion 15 is not limitedto the position of the present embodiment, but may be suitably changed.However, according to the position of the present embodiment, it is easyto demonstrate a function to prevent the connection base 11 from movingfrom the temporary fixing position by supporting the connection base 11.Besides, if necessary, a structure may be employed, in which at thefixing position, an outer surface (side surface) of the flange portion11 c butts a protrusion or the like formed on the frame 12 instead ofthat the coupling portion 11 d of the connection base 11 butts the innerwall of the through-hole 13.

In the meantime, in the present embodiment, a design is employed toobtain the structure, in which the gap CL (see FIG. 2; for example,about 0.5 mm) between the main body portion 11 a and flange portion 11 cof the connection base 11 becomes slightly smaller than the thickness t(see FIG. 7) of the side wall 12 a of the frame 12. According to thisstructure, as described above, by rotating the connection base 11 afterinserting the flange portion 11 c into the frame 12 via the through-hole13, it is possible to temporarily fix the connection base 11 to theframe 12 with no looseness (without being rotated) without using the armportion (pressurization portion) 14. However, actually, if there is notthe arm portion 14, because of unevenness in component dimensions, theconnection base 11 becomes likely to move with respect to the frame 12at the fixing position. Because of this, it is very useful to disposethe arm portion 14 as a rotation stopper that has a function to stoprotation.

Besides, in the above description, the mounting structure, procedure,and effects of only one of the two connection bases 11, 11 of the tuner1 are described; however, the other is the same. Because of this, thedescription is skipped.

The embodiment described above is an example of the present invention,but the application scope of the present invention is not limited to thestructure of the embodiment described above. It goes without saying thatit is possible to suitably modify the above embodiment without departingfrom the technical concept of the present invention. For example, theshapes, sizes and the like of the members described above may besuitably modified.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tuner comprising: a frame that is provided witha through-hole; and a connection portion to which a connector isconnected; wherein the connection portion includes a flange portion thatis able to select to pass through the through-hole or not to passthrough the through-hole by the connection portion being rotated; andthe frame includes a pressurization portion that pressurizes the flangeportion which passes through the through-hole.
 2. The tuner according toclaim 1, wherein the flange portion includes a planar portion thatincludes a first direction for passing through the through-hole and asecond direction for not-passing through the through-hole.
 3. The tuneraccording to claim 1, wherein the pressurization portion changes apressurization force for pressurizing the flange portion in accordancewith a rotation amount of the flange portion.
 4. The tuner according toclaim 1, wherein the frame includes a limit portion that limits rotationof the flange portion which is inserted into the through-hole.
 5. Thetuner according to claim 1, wherein the frame includes a first side walland a second side wall that meets the first side wall at right angles;wherein the through-hole is disposed through the first through-hole; andthe pressurization portion is disposed on the second side wall in anelastically deformable manner and pressurizes the flange portion from aside surface.